Objectives

To summarize section , the primary objectives of this architecture are several:

1. to maximize operational reliability, measured by well-defined performance metrics, such as time to delivery, mean time between failure, and time available to client, by minimizing the number of components for which the client has operational responsibility.
2. to maximize the direct client administrative control, measured by the time to effect administrative changes, also know as the ``service velocity''.
3. to minimize the administrative effort, measured in full time equivalent persons (FTE), required of the service provider.
4. to minimize the operational effort, measured in full time equivalent persons (FTE), required of the entire institution.
5. to provide a service agent coherent with the client's daily operating environment.
6. to ensure that the service can be delivered across current and future strategic telecommunications infrastructure.

To achieve these objectives, an operationally centralized, but administratively decentralized service appears optimal. Operational and technical centralization provide high reliability, evolvability, and interoperability. Administrative decentralization provides strong customer control on the service parameters, rapid response time, and a minimum of bureaucracy.